An offline coupling of fire spread models to simulate the 2021 Marshall Fire

The 2021 Marshall Fire serves as the case study. A map of the fire’s timeline and location is generated using public information. Three simulation scenarios are analysed to study the effects of wind input resolution and building type on the predicted fire spread and damage.

Key results. The most accurate results are obtained using a high-resolution wind input and when incorporating different building types. Conclusions.

The offline coupling of models provides a reliable solution for fire spread simulation. Fire-resistant buildings likely helped limit community fire spread during the Marshall Fire. Implications.

The research is a first step toward developing simulation capabilities to predict the spread of wildfires within the wildland, WUI and urban environments.